Human rights advocates Robson Chere, Namatai Kwekweza, and Samuel Gwenzi—who were dramatically removed from a flight last year—have been acquitted after spending more than a year facing charges of disorderly conduct.
The trio, who had been on trial since July 2024, walked out of a Harare court as free individuals after a magistrate cleared them of all allegations. They were among a group of activists tried together for allegedly participating in an unlawful demonstration.
Others who were acquitted alongside them include Vusumuzi Moyo, Phillies Pikitayi, Dephine Gutsa, Simbarashe Blackson, Emmanuel Sitima, and Last Chinody.
Kwekweza (26), Chere (41), and Gwenzi (40) were preparing to board a Fastjet flight to Victoria Falls at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport when they were abruptly pulled off the aircraft by authorities.
The charges stemmed from an alleged protest held outside the Harare Magistrates Court on June 27, 2024, in support of over 70 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members who were appearing in court at the time.
Kwekweza’s legal team successfully proved that she was outside Zimbabwe on the date in question, challenging the credibility of the police accusations. Lawyers also suggested the arrests were politically motivated, aimed at pre-empting demonstrations ahead of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit hosted by Zimbabwe on August 17.
Emmanuel Sitima, one of the cleared activists, described the trial as an attempt to silence dissent. “Since July 25, 2024, we’ve been dragged through the courts on baseless charges aimed at discouraging us from calling for a democratic Zimbabwe. After a year of persecution, we are finally free—and more determined than ever,” he said following the verdict.
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